Nafed To Lift Ban On Onion Exports

The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (Nafed) has decided to lift the ban on onion exports with effect from February 23 to prevent onion growers in Maharashtra--the main onion growing centre in the country--from incurring heavy losses.

Speaking to newspersons at Lasalgaon in Niphad taluka of the district here last evening, Changdevrao Holkar, director, Nafed, said that the federation had taken the decision following the crash in onion prices by Rs 1000 per quintal.

Urban consumers could now buy onions at the rate of Rs eight to Rs 10 per kg by next week, he added.

Meanwhile, farmers in Lasalgaon, Pimpagaon, Chandvad and Satana feared that they would suffer heavy losses if the stocks of rangda onion, a highly perishable quality, was not cleared immediately. Stocks of ranga onions continued to pour in as trucks laden with onions were stationed at the Krishi Utpanna Bazar Samiti at Lasalgaon and Pimpalgaon.